Literacy for Survival: Literacy Experiences and Practices of Women in an Urban Community in Metro Manila, Philippines

Veering away from a traditional and functional view of literacy, this paper espouses a social literacy paradigm that focuses on actual practices of literacy within cultural groups and social institutions. This ethnographic study specifically intends to understand the literacy experiences and practices of women in an urban community located in the Philippine capital, Metro Manila. Through interviews and observations, findings revealed that these Filipino women possess literacy skills and engage in literacy practices to perform their roles in various domains of society effectively. Furthermore, literacy is also considered by these women as a tool for their and their families' survival in the modern urban jungle.